John Martino
remembered
as giving man

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT), Kamilla Gary THE NEWS-TIMES

Published 1:00 am, Sunday, February 6, 2005

BROOKFIELD - For Richard and John Martino Jr., when they remember their father, John Martino Sr., they remember someone who contributed to the community in many ways, loved his family, and went about life in a humble, unassuming way.

The elder Martino devoted his life to his faith, his family and service to his community. He died Tuesday at
Danbury Hospital
at age 74. According to his sons, he had been in and out of the hospital for the past two months with complications following back surgery in November.

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John Martino Sr. served in the Korean War with the
U.S. Army
where he drew Korean armistice maps. After the conflict, he returned home and married
Angie Mazzoli

. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary last June.

A resident of Brookfield since the 1930s when he and his family moved from Harrison, N.Y., Martino began work in community service that would span almost 40 years.

In the 1960s, Martino began running for public office, including first selectman and the board of selectmen, as a Democrat in the predominately Republican town. He was elected to the board in 1965 and served until 1967.

"When he was running for first selectman, I asked him why did he keep running in a town that was 2-1 Republican," John Martino Jr. said. "He told me 'In order for the process to work, people need a choice.' "

,
Whisconier Middle School
and the first addition to
Brookfield High School
were built. Martino's love of politics and community passed on to his sons, who also entered public service. John served on both the municipal building committee and the zoning commission. Rick is currently a member of the board of finance.

As a way of helping more people outside the political arena, Martino also served on the
Brookfield Police Commission
for 27 years. The commission laid the foundation for the town's police department in the 1970s.

All the while, the senior Martino and his brother owned and operated Martino Brothers General Contractors for 40 years in Danbury. A master carpenter, he founded Johnny's Cabinets, which operated from 1975 to 1995.

"It was a natural fit, one went with the other," John Martino Jr. said.

Martino also enjoyed gardening and singing with a barbershop quartet. Before he was married, he raced boats near his family's home on Candlewood Lake.

"He was and will always be the most humble, giving individual a human being could meet and know," said
Tony Rizzo
, a fellow businessman in Danbury and Martino's nephew by marriage. Rizzo married Martino's niece, Joan, after meeting her in 1956. He called his time with "Uncle John," a blessing.

Martino was a 50-year member of the Catholic War Veterans, Post 1042 in Danbury, where he served as a past commander. Each year at the annual town Memorial Day Parade, Martino would march and sell poppy flowers for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Al Cutler
, a fellow CWV member and also a nephew, remembered Martino as an "awesome" guy.

"As a businessman, he was the most honest guy you'd ever want to meet," Cutler said. "He'd help anybody."

Following Martino's funeral mass on Saturday, about 175 relatives were invited back to the CWV for a Mercy Meal.

Bobby Ross
, a friend for 25 years remembered Martino as being a kind, great guy.

"With his knowledge in carpentry he helped us remodel the war vets post," Ross said.

Rizzo said that Martino covered every phase of what anyone wants to accomplish as they travel along life's journey.

"He was a good businessman, above all those things, he was a man of God," Rizzo said. "In his own humble way, he guided most of us to have strength in our faith."

Rick Martino said he heard a quote that mirrors the feelings of his family.

"'It's not the years in your life, it's the life in your years," he said. "Dad had a wonderful life, but it was too short for us."